Erin Blaise's (erinblaise) Blog

I hate brochure boxes. The brochures fade, get wet, get used for scratch paper, and generally get thrown around the neighbrohood. I was paying for something that would shortly be turning into trash! I won't be anymore and I am so happy about it. I am offering instant paperless brochures outside m...

Just listed! 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath condo with garage. Quiet neighborhood close to shopping and schools. Lots of space! Condo fees include water, sewer and trash service for your convenience.

Yesterday I looked at a house the owner wants to sell. Unfortunately, I don't think I'm going to be able to help. The property has been vacant for 16 years. If he would have called me when it originally went vacant, I probably could have done something. The experience made me sad. The house is lo...

...and this stage is a place where a unending string of tragedies is constantly unfolding. Yesterday I attended an inspection by a mold remediation contractor. The potential buyer was not able to be there. She recruited her step mother and grandfather to attend the inspection. Some people get wor...

I have been talking via email to a couple of people who have been trying to sell their homes without a Realtor. One of them informed me she had contracted with someone to "put her home in the Multiple Listing Service" for a fee. She thinks, because no one has ever shown her the benefit of using a...

I spent a very frustrating Saturday showing duplexes to a client who would really like to buy one. Now, if someone would only cooperate!   The first one we looked at had the "for sale" sign removed and hidden next to the house. I wasn't sure why but I thought maybe it was moved for lawn mowing. I...

People continue to complain the real estate market isn't what we want it to be. The latest figures show the market has been improving. With mortgage rates predicted to go up in March, now is truly the time to buy. Last weeks 4.83% interest rate on a 30 year loan was the third lowest since 1971. T...

When I first heard about the repeat buyer tax credit, my response was "hooray, I'm moving". I was wrong. It turns out, I'm not elligible. Here are the basic facts about the tax credit: 1. You need to have lived in your home for 5 of the last 8 years as your primary residence. 2. If you are marrie...

Our 2009 summer housing numbers indicate our market is going against a national trend. Our sales have increased this year over last year according to data from the Columbia Board of Realtors. In July this year we had 211 single family homes sold, compared to 182 homes for last year. Existing home...

The Missouri Housing Development Commission has just announced a wonderful new program where home buyers can get a 20% downpayment grant when they buy a bank owned home. The maximum grant is $14,999. Here are the details: *Buyers must use MHDC "First Place Loan" for their first mortgage *Buyers m...